US developer turned NZ vintner
A former Manhattan developer, Colin Rath, has bought a North Canterbury vineyard without having to show the investment in sensitive land will benefit New Zealanders.
Rath received Overseas Investment Office permission to purchase the 27 hectare property at Waipara, formerly known as Fiddler’s Green and currently trading as Waipara Winds Bistro.
He holds an entrepreneur work visa, and has satisfied the OIO that he intends to obtain residency and live in New Zealand indefinitely.
‘‘This supports migrants in the process of moving to New Zealand to make it their home and make a positive contribution to society,’’ the OIO said in its decision.
Rath, 55, also owns a locally registered company called New York Grape Escape.
The Waipara property at 246 Georges Rd is one of several smaller vineyards for sale in the area, some of them on the market for a long time.
It was last sold in 2013 by its founder Barry Johns to Ross Trowsdale and partner Clare Bisso, who have sold it to Rath.
Rath and his wife Pamela and three daughters arrived in Auckland in 2016 on their 16 metre Hanse 545 yacht Persevere after a two-year journey.
The boat was placed on the market for $950,000, and was parked in the Westhaven Marina until recently when it was taken to Australia for sale.
In a 2015 book he detailed his property development sagas in the US, a turgid account of his views about his property developments mired in creditor claims, and opposition of neighbours.
He also owned a US$3.4 million (NZ$4.7m) luxury apartment in Manhattan. It featured two waterfalls and a scaled water feature in the shape of the Yangtze River.
He signalled his intentions to live in New Zealand in a US magazine article in 2015, saying ‘‘This is not the America I knew’’.
In 2010 the Waipara property had a $2.1m rateable valuation.